For those of us who spend most of our working life sitting at a desk, the value of a comfortable chair is beyond description.
When you spend hours working on the computer, tablet, or phone, saying that it can get uncomfortable if you don’t have a good office chair would be a huge understatement.
The consequences can be more than just discomfort. It can lead to painful back problems, especially for those who have posture issues or already suffer from this part of their body.
Many of us change positions frequently and use more than one device from a sitting position—so it’s important that the chair supports you in all these activities.
A good office chair, then, is non-negotiable.
Everyone who works in an office, whether in an office building or from their home, should get a high-quality chair that’s designed for long hours and maximum use.
To help you with your search, we rounded up five of the best office chairs for long hours currently on the market.
Steelcase Gesture Office Chair
A high-quality office chair that can be used in a variety of work environments, the Steelcase Gesture is an attractive office chair that would look good in any office.
This chair has been designed to support a range of different postures in a way that has not previously been done.
The arms remain parallel to the work surface regardless of the recline, giving you optimal support. The arms have complete 360 degrees of movement
The seat is purposely designed to relieve the discomfort of sitting for long periods of time. It has air pockets incorporated into it and a flexible perimeter to stop pressure points on thighs.
Gesture’s 3D LiveBack technology is designed to mimic the shape and movement of your spine and align it to avoid discomfort.
The seat and backrest are made from polyester fabric in an attractive graphite color. The wheelbase is aluminum.
Two of the main features of the Steelcase Gesture office chair are its ergonomics and comfort. It has adjustable seat height, arm rotation, and lumbar support.
Featured product
The chair designed for every posture
This chair mimics the spine’s full range of motion to provide support however you move. It’s a great high-performance seating for the corporate and home office.
Pros
- Designed to support users when working with multiple devices
- Highly ergonomic chair with flexible spine support
- Air pocket supported seat and flexible edge perimeter for reduced pressure points on thighs
- 360-degree rotating arms that remain parallel to the work surfaces even when the chair is reclined
- Contoured seat back supports and aligns the spine in its most healthy positions
Cons
- Not for every buyer’s budget
Also available at Steelcase Store and Office Logix Shop
Herman Miller Aeron Ergonomic Chair
The Herman Miller Aeron office chair has been around for more than a quarter of a century.
Its current iteration is a stylish and practical task chair that can easily grace the office of a CEO or a work-from-home professional.
Herman Miller’s patented PostureFit SL back support, as well as its pioneering Pellicle suspension material, have created a truly unique office chair that offers comfort for long hours in the office.
The design of this chair is user-friendly, taking into consideration all the different movements and positions that workers adopt while going about their day.
Using recycled materials, the chair is not only stylishly ergonomic but also environmentally and sustainability friendly. The frame and base are made from die-cast aluminum.
Eight different zones of varying tension enable the chair to support the user.
The back of the Herman Miller Aeron ensures optimal comfort for the spine, while the seat is tipped slightly forward to accommodate the natural tilt of the pelvis.
Featured product
This chair is Herman Miller’s best-seller for a reason
With more than 8 million chairs sold, the Aeron is a Herman Miller’s most admired and recognized seating that supports a range for body types, postures, and activities.
Pros
- Patented and pioneering technology combined with high adjustability make this an efficient and ergonomic chair
- Seat tilt mechanism and padded arms
- Lumbar support gives stability to the base of the spine
- Herman Miller offers a 12-year warranty
- Breathable fabric reduces heat build-up and sweat
Cons
- Pricey
Also available at Herman Miller and Madison Seating
Duramont Ergonomic Office Chair
An ergonomic chair that allows you to choose whatever reclining angle you want and lock it into place, the Duramont Ergonomic Office Chair is very comfortable and versatile
Designed for long periods sitting at your desk while giving you optimal support to avoid causing or aggravating back problems.
The chair is made from a high-quality breathable mesh for extra comfort, allowing cool air to circulate and reducing heat build-up.
A soft cushioned seat and sturdy arm provide a comfortable, stable environment from which to work.
The rollerblade caster wheels make moving around your office smooth and quiet.
This office chair features adjustable lumbar support, which can be moved in or out as well as up and down for maximum versatility.
With the Duramont Ergonomic Office Chair, you also have the ability to lock in your favorite reclining position from 90 to 120 degrees.
Featured product
Duramont Ergonomic Office Chair
The comfortable workhorse of office chairs
This chair has everything you’re looking for in high-performance seating: Adjustable features, breathable mesh, and proper back support.
Pros
- Fully adjustable lumbar support
- Choose and lock in your favorite reclining position
- Breathable mesh fabric to keep you cool and comfortable
- Smooth easy roll caster wheels
Cons
- Self-assembly required
Also available at Duramont and Walmart
HON Ignition 2.0
The HON Ignition 2.0 is an attractive chair that would look as good in an executive office as in a home office.
Its sleek design and clean lines also provide premium comfort while being extremely practical.
This chair is designed for those looking for comfort, support, and versatility in a task chair.
With multi-adjustable functions, it is suitable for a wide range of users and has a maximum weight capacity of 300 lbs.
A four-way stretch mesh allows cool airflow and breathability.
The contoured seat cushion with a rounded edge gives support and comfort to the back of your legs and relieves pressure areas under your thighs.
Adjustable lumbar support that lasts all day long, so you avoid stiffness and backache.
Both the height and width of the arms are adjustable to accommodate most users with ease and comfort.
The synchro tilt mechanism of the HON Ignition 2.0 joins the seat and the back so that they tilt simultaneously, and the resin reinforced base has a 360-degree swivel.
Featured product
They call it the seat that fits
Smart, stylish, and supportive, this chair is comfortable—and highly customizable—for every body type, posture, and use case.
Pros
- Breathable four-way stretch mesh fabric
- Soft contoured seat cushion
- Adjustable lumbar support, arms, and seat height
Cons
- Users noted that the chair is not well proportioned
Also available at HON and Target
Noblewell NWOC1 Office Chair
The Noblewell NWOC1 Office Chair office chair is multi-adjustable and provides ergonomic design and comfort for any office situation, from secretary to CEO.
It is designed for people who spend a lot of time at their desk and don’t want to be distracted by discomfort while they work.
The S-shaped back of the chair imitates the human spine and gives maximum posture support. Ideal for those with pre-existing back conditions.
A mesh design provides breathability and reduces the chance of sweat and odor build-up.
Despite the seat cushion being made from a high-density sponge, it is both soft and breathable. The nylon casters are smooth rolling and resistant to wear.
The Noblewell NWOC1 Office Chair is a good all-around chair for those who spend long hours at work. It’s durable, reliable, and breathable.
Featured product
Great value for the money
Breathable, comfortable, and highly erconomic, the NWOC1 is a great choice for the chair buyer on a tight budget.
Pros
- Adjustable lumbar support, headrest, backrest, and armrest for optimum comfort
- Silent casters will protect your floor
- 90-degree working position and 135-degree rest position
- Ergonomic design
Cons
- Self-assembly
- Users complain the headrest is set too far back
Also available at Noblewell
Buyer’s Guide
With all of these office chairs to choose from, how do you know which one is right for you?
If you are going to be spending long hours at your desk, you will need a chair that’s comfortable to use, that provides support for your back, neck, and shoulders in all postures, and that doesn’t wear out quickly.
So, let’s take a look at some of the features of the office chairs we’ve reviewed so that you can decide which one is the best buy for your work situation.
Ergonomic Design
Ergonomics is the science of how people and their work environment interact, with a view to making this interaction as efficient as possible. This applies most directly to the equipment that people use in their offices, such as chairs, desks, and workstations.
If you spend a lot of time sitting in your office or at your station, it is in your interest to be as comfortable as possible while also being able to carry out multiple tasks.
A good office chair should provide support for your back, neck, and shoulders. It should also allow you to adjust the height of the seat as needed.
If you work at a desk with an armrest, consider getting one that has a tilt feature. This allows you to raise your arms above your head without having to lean forward.
An office chair’s ergonomic design means that the shape of your spine is mimicked to give you optimum support, but also keeps your spine correctly aligned.
This prevents slouching or having your back in an unnatural position for long periods of time.
So the ability to adjust various parts of your office chair gives you the option of customizing it to suit your individual needs while keeping your spine in its most natural shape.
Lumbar Support
One of the most common complaints of people who spend lots of time sitting down is aching in the lower or lumbar region of their back.
To avoid creating a long-term problem with your back, having lumbar support in your chair is recommended. This support maintains the spine’s natural curve and stops slouched posture.
But as people are of different heights, the support needs to be adjustable to benefit multiple-sized users. This is available in a lot of office chairs, but not all.
Ergonomics experts recommend that people sit up straight when using a computer. This helps keep your spine aligned properly and prevents muscle strain. To do this, make sure your chair has adjustable armrests and a tilt mechanism.
The best lumbar support is one that can be moved up and down the back of the chair but also moved in and out to provide customizable comfort.
Particularly important for long work days when your needs may change over the course of the day.
Good lumbar support will work in conjunction with the seat cushion, allowing the support to extend all the way down to the base of the spine.
Adjustable Seat
Not everyone is the same height, nor do we all have the same length of legs. This is where having the option of an adjustable seat will come into its own.
No one wants to be sitting with their legs dangling a couple of inches off the floor in an otherwise comfortable chair.
Similarly, those with longer legs will be uncomfortable if they have to sit with their legs in a cramped position.
Take time to find out what is the best seat height for you and choose an office chair that has adjustable seat height. Some office chairs provide a seat that compliments the more natural forward position of the pelvis.
This is achieved through the angle of the seat and can often be adjusted through pads in the seat cushion. Other brands offer different seat sizes for a better individual fit.
Recline Position
Occasionally during a long work day, you will want to relax, giving your eyes and mind a rest from what you are doing.
Having a reclining seat allows you to chill for a while and take a breather. This can help clear your mind and give you a few moments to recharge.
Most office chairs have some degree of recline ability, varying from 90 degrees to 135 degrees, but not all will allow you to lock in the position.
The synchro tilt coordinates the recline of the back rest with the tilt of the seat. This means that they are linked and move together.
Chairs with synchro-tilt should have a flexible seat edge or a waterfall seat to avoid pressure on the back of your thighs when reclining.
Other chairs have a multifunction mechanism that allows the seat tilt and chair back recline to operate independently of each other. This provides greater adjustability and customization.
Material
The material that an office chair is made from can have an impact on the comfort you experience while working.
Breathable mesh fabric allows cool air to flow through and prevents heat build-up and sweating. It’s a more comfortable and hygienic chair covering.
Seat cushion material is often a high-density foam and should also be breathable for comfort, allowing air to circulate.
Although some designs do not have a seat cushion but rather a mesh seat pan which can be replaced if necessary.
There are office chairs that are covered in fabric, but these tend not to let air flow through and can hold on to moisture and odor.
Vinyl is also a non-breathable material but has the benefit of being easy to wipe clean. Leather upholstery is expensive and high maintenance.
The most common materials used in constructing the frame of the chair are steel, aluminum, and reinforced resin.
Casters
The unsung hero of the office chair is the lowly caster. But these are one of the most fundamental components and should be worthy of some consideration.
There are many types of casters developed for different floor coverings and from various materials.
A standard caster is usually made from nylon and typically has a plastic covering hood.
They work best on soft surfaces like carpets and rugs. They can often be locked into place if you want the chair to be stable.
Soft casters are also often described as rollerblade casters due to their similarity in appearance.
Made from polyurethane or rubber, they are more suitable for hard wooden or tiled floors.
An office chair will typically have five caster wheels on a five-point base. This provides improved stability and mobility when moving around on the chair.
While it might seem trivial, it is important to get the right caster for the type of floor your chair will be moving around on.
Hard casters on a hard floor will move a lot more quickly than on the carpet they are designed for. This could result in an accident or injury to the user.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is The Type Of Office Chair Important?
Workers who spend a lot of time sitting at their workstations or desks need to have comfortable chairs.
Bad posture for extended periods of time can lead to back issues, which may mean time off work and loss of productivity.
The seat height and depth should be correct for the user, so they can have their feet flat on the floor and be able to keep their arms at the same height as their desk.
An adjustable seat height is preferable.
Lumbar support aligns and mimics the natural S shape of your back for optimal posture and prevents slouching.
This reduces the risk of back pain. The backrest and headrest should also be adjustable to allow the user to customize their chair for best use and comfort.
What Is The Best Chair For A Home Office?
Furnishing an office is not something that you may have done before, but with more people working from home recently, it is good to know which chair you should be using.
There is no real distinction between a work office or a home office chair, so decide how you will be using it.
People working from home tend to do more hours than if they were in an office, so it is likely this will be the case for you too.
If you are going to be spending long hours in your chair, make sure it is as comfortable and adjustable as possible.
Choose a chair that is the right size for you, has independently adjustable functions, and with breathable mesh fabric for comfort.